Race Report 2024 - From a race director's perspective

What a wonderful day it was!
At least that's what the race leaders Olle and I think. Brilliant sunshine and lots of energy that bubbled over the entire Hammarbyhöjden arena.

The day started off in the best possible way with 100s of little children's bodies jumping in time to "la la Gunilla" and following the movements of the girls from the body workshop and the yoga room. They then lined up at the starting line and ran off in a long snake with parents trailing behind. There was even more joy when they ran under the finish line arch to the cheers of the crowd and received medals, juice and fruit from our heart mascots Pandan and Fox. What lovely smiles when they realized that they had completed an entire trail course! For some for the first time and for others it was a favorite in replay.

The first real race start was then at 10:30. Then the toughest runners ran out on our longest course which stretches just over 21km. It is a tough course with strong hills and which runs largely on smaller paths in forest terrain with a lot of roots but it is also a fantastic nature experience! Absolutely the best value for money. Here in the picture you see the winner Simon Svedin who later finished in the time 01:40:45. Best lady in the 21K class was Marissa Cortright in 01:57:52.

First to cross the finish line of the competition classes were the 5K runners. Gustav Peterson and Cajsa Grape were the winners. Second in the men's class was Andrey Devyatkin who traveled to Sweden all the way from the Canary Islands. He ran the Stockholm Trail while his wife was in the city running Tjejmilen. He liked the course and the nature and has the habit of heat so did not think it was a problem which some runners struggled with.

Men's 10K winner Magnus Jensen says after the finish that it is the first real 10km race he runs in 15 years after struggling with a lot of injuries. He also says that he is very happy to be back and that he thinks it is fun that we have created a technically difficult course in the terrain despite the fact that the competition is so close to Stockholm city. We also think it's great to see him in such good shape and welcome him back next year again.

"Nice environment, varied course. Fun! And good atmosphere" is how 10K women's winner Felicia Cederlund summarized her day in the forest when she arrived at the finish line.

Another fun visit to this year's competition was 10 participants from Ukraine that Stockholm Trail came into contact with through "Help in change Sweden" which works to offer Ukrainians both children and adults who have come to Sweden various activities to get into Swedish society and get to know people here. Several of them were good runners but had never run trail running before so for them the courses were an exciting adventure. Some took on the 5K course and others the 10K course. Hope some of you ventured out and talk to them?
If not, you will have the opportunity to meet them at the fall and spring trainings we offer in our Premium package where we decided to offer them to join and train with us for free. 

THANK YOU all you wonderful runners who participated and made the 12th edition of Stockholm Trail so fantastic!
And thanks to you, we can donate a contribution to the Heart Children's Fund and the rest goes to our youth activities in the orienteering club OK Södertörn.

We would also like to thank our sponsors Bagheera, Best Western, Umara, Team Nordic Trail and ICA Maxi Nacka who sponsored with prizes and materials.

See you soon!